covers & employment.

things are good, things are better, things are best. this past monday I played at the uncommon ground open mic, which has one of the best vibes in the city (note the dog paintings in the background - pure rock & roll). every week the open mic is a small competition, & all of the winners go on to play at a grand finale in july. I played my guitar for the first time, as there was a cubs game & lugging my keyboard didn't seem worth it. I did a cover of dilate by ani (soon to be posted) & muddy summer and ended up winning the popular (applause) vote (which I think is only because my uncle & cousin were in the audience whooping away) and I won a grand $24, which I spent on a cab ride home & a burger at earwax. it does, however, mean that I'm playing on july 18th at uncommon ground for the finale, right after the intonation fest weekend, which is looking amazingly fun.

away from the music front, I've acquired a job working for my aunt at a medical lab, which ... is a good summer job. I'm not learning the Big Secrets of the music industry, but I'm getting paid a good amount of money for working on my own schedule. I've also started filling time with voice lessons at northwestern, so as not to get my ass kicked in september, and boating with my family on the weekends - the glorious sport of eating & drinking & getting sun. there's no doubt in my mind that chicago was the right choice for this summer, although every once in a while I feel myself missing cambridge in my fingers (usually those moments come when I'm making $4 for an hour of busking on the street, when in the square it was closer to $40). I'm planning a trip home for a few days after the fourth to see my family; speaking of home, it's time to go call my dad & thank him for my conception. at least that way maybe he'll overlook my request for money this past week.